Monday, 30 April 2012

In
his message for the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, celebrated
28 April of each year, the ILO Director General reiterated the need to
focus on the promotion of safer and healthier workplaces in the
transition to a greener economy.

Statement | 25 April 2012

On this World Day for Safety and Health at Work
it is timely to focus on the opportunity to promote safer and healthier
workplaces as part of decent work strategies in the transition to a
greener economy.
The Rio +20 Summit will address the challenge of ensuring that
sustainable development is built on economic growth and social equity as
well as environmental protection. Realizing this vision of sustainable
development requires integrated and mutually reinforcing policy
approaches bringing together the needs of people and the planet, linking
growth and fairness.
Protecting the right of all workers to a safe and healthy working
environment respects human dignity and the dignity of work and is
integral to a socially inclusive approach. This is why occupational
safety and health is embedded in the goal of decent work and decent work
for all is central to the social pillar of sustainable development.
ILO standards on occupational safety and health provide guidance to
governments, employers and workers and their organizations, and all
stakeholders on the prevention and management of occupational hazards
and risks. They also give guidance on the control measures that prevent
negative workplace impact on the environment.
Awareness raising and prevention underpin strategies to reduce the
incidence of occupational injury, illness and fatalities. Social
dialogue is a valuable and indispensable tool. All of these must feature
prominently in the transition to a greener economy.
Experience has already shown that some substances while being more
environmentally friendly could be more hazardous to workers’ health.
Consequently, renewable energies, waste management and recycling, as
well as the greening of traditional industries must be approached from
the outset with an eye on the occupational safety and health challenges
with the aim of eliminating old hazards and risks and preventing new
ones from emerging.
Let us strive for a win-win situation for all – workers, families, communities, enterprises, economies, and the environment.
Let us make the safety and health of all workers – in the formal and
informal economy – a primary and direct objective of policies and
strategies for an environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive
green economy.
Let us opt for the approach that produces safe and healthy work in
sustainable enterprises, poverty reduction and a growth path that yields
more and better jobs.

World Day for Safety and Health at Work in 2012:
Promoting safety and health in a green economy

The
2012 World Day for Safety and Health at Work focuses on the promotion
of occupational safety and health (OSH) in a green economy. There is a
shift in the world to a greener and more sustainable economy. However,
even if certain jobs are considered to be “green”, the technologies used
may protect the environment but not be safe at all.

Type:

Campaign

When:

28 April 2012

Where:

Geneva

Contact(s):

safeday@ilo.org

As the green economy develops, it is essential that safety and
health at work are integrated into green jobs policies. This implies
integrating risk assessment and management measures in the life cycle
analysis of all green jobs. A true green job must integrate safety and health
into design, procurement, operations, maintenance, sourcing and
recycling policies, certification systems and occupational safety and
health quality standards. This is especially relevant for sectors such
as construction, waste recycling, solar energy production and biomass
processing.

Promoting safety and health in a green economy

A new report by the ILO launched for the World Day for Safety and
Health at Work says the greening of the economy should be accompanied by
the proper integration of workplace safety and health measures:

The report looks at different “green industries” from an occupational
safety and health perspective, and shows that while green jobs improve
the environment, revitalize the economy and create new employment
opportunities, they may also present a number of known and unknown risks
for workers. “Moving towards a green economy implies
setting higher standards for environmental protection while, at the same
time, incorporating workers' safety and health as an integral part of
the strategy. The greening of the economy serves as an ideal platform
for comprehensive methods to protect the workers, the general
environment and the surrounding communities. Only then will we be
contributing to an environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive
outcome, only then, will we achieve safe, healthy and decent work in a
green economy”, Mr Seiji Machida, Director of the ILO Programme on Safety and Health at Work and the Environment (SafeWork).
Find out more: Jobs in the green economy should be safe and healthy, ILO says

Questions and answers

Marking the World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2012

The ILO celebrates the World Day for Safety and Health at Work on the
28 April to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and
diseases globally. It is an awareness-raising campaign intended to focus
international attention on emerging trends in the field of occupational
safety and health and on the magnitude of work-related injuries,
diseases and fatalities worldwide. This year the campaign focuses on the
safety and health dimension of greening the economy.
See also: Message by Juan Somavia, Director-General of the ILO

Saturday, 28 April 2012

The OPCW observed the annual Day of Remembrance for
All Victims of Chemical Warfare with a solemn ceremony today in the
Ieper Room at the headquarters in The Hague. Speaking on the occasion
were the Chair of the Conference of the States Parties, H.E. Paul
Arkwright; the OPCW Director-General, H.E. Ahmet Üzümcü; the
Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands,
Mr Ed Kronenburg; and Mr Jozias van Aartsen, the Mayor of The Hague.

Secretary-General's Message for 2012

The Day of Remembrance for All Victims of Chemical Warfare is an
occasion to mourn those who have suffered from these inhumane arms and
to renew our resolve to eradicate them from our world.
When we remind the world of the agony inflicted by chemical
weapons, we present the most compelling case for permanently outlawing
them and establishing and verifying, through the Chemical Weapons
Convention (CWC), a comprehensive and legally binding ban.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the entry into force of
the CWC. Today, with 188 State Parties representing 98 per cent of the
world’s population, the Convention is standing strong. I call on the
eight States remaining outside the Convention to join at the earliest
possible date. There is no excuse for delays in ridding our planet of
these instruments of suffering and death.

Through strong provisions, the Convention provides an effective
international regime to verify the destruction of all chemical weapons
stockpiles and to prevent their re-emergence. This will reduce the
threat of chemical weapons terrorism and strengthen the work of the
United Nations to prevent the use of weapons of mass destruction by
terrorists.

The extended deadline for States parties to complete the
destruction of chemical weapons is 29 April. Almost three quarters of
all declared stockpiles have been destroyed. I welcome efforts by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to ensure
that all chemical weapons are destroyed as soon as possible.

The OPCW is also continuously monitoring the chemical industry in
an effort to prevent the re-emergence of chemical weapons. So far, the
Organisation has conducted 2200 inspections in 82 countries.
As we welcome the Convention’s achievements, we never let the
memory of the victims fade. This Day is a time to remember them in the
most meaningful way possible: by pledging to ensure that future
generations never endure the scourge that these human beings suffered.

Friday, 27 April 2012

Martin Luther King Jr. once said that “jazz speaks for life.” This is the spirit of the first International Jazz Day.
Jazz has defied almost every attempt at definition. The music critic John Fordham may have captured it best when he described the music of Miles Davis as “the sound of the skipped heart-beat, the caught breath, the sudden smile.”
Jazz is music of boundless creativity. Mixing composition and improvisation, the formal and informal, it renews itself every time it is played. Born in the United States, jazz is owned by the world. Rooted in African traditions and drawing on European musical forms, it has taken on new shapes in cultures across the globe. Jazz makes the most of the world’s diversity, effortlessly crossing borders and bringing people together.
Jazz has been a force for positive social transformation throughout its history, and it remains so today. This is why UNESCO created International Jazz Day. From its roots in slavery, this music has raised a passionate voice against all forms of oppression. It speaks a language of freedom that is meaningful to all cultures. The same goals guide UNESCO in its efforts to build bridges of dialogue and understanding between all cultures and societies. We work with governments and societies and also with artists, including Herbie Hancock, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. Making the most of cultural diversity is a task we all share.
This is why this first International Jazz Day will be celebrated with concerts across the world, from Muscat to Moscow, Yerevan to Havana, Paris and New York to New Orleans. Each of these concerts will display the power of jazz to enhance human dignity, respect and peace. Each is a moment to share the wonders that come from the sound of the skipped heart-beat, the caught breath, the sudden smile.
Jazz connects people, cultures and the world. This is our message. Irina Bokova

About International Jazz Day

In November 2011 the UNESCO General Conference proclaimed 30
April as “International Jazz Day”. This International Day will bring
together communities, schools, artists, historians, academics, and
jazz enthusiasts all over the world to celebrate and learn about the art
of jazz, its roots, its future and its impact. This important
international art form will be celebrated for promoting peace,
dialogue among cultures, diversity, and respect for human rights and
human dignity, eradicating discrimination, promoting freedom of
expression, fostering gender equality, and reinforcing the role of
youth for social change.

History and Outreach

Jazz is a unique musical style that originated in the southern
part of the United States of America, but has its roots in Africa and
merges both African and European music traditions. Years before the
integration of social structures such as the work place, education
systems, and professional sports teams, the jazz bandstand was an
example of tolerance, cooperation, improvisation, and mutual
understanding. In addition, jazz provided one of the first forums for
freedom of expression and gender empowerment, and is an example of the
transformative power of this fundamental human right. During the
twentieth century, jazz proved to be a universal language spreading
over the continents, influencing and being influenced by other kinds
of music, evolving as a merging cultural element for supporters all
around the world, with no distinction of race, religion, or national
origin.
Jazz music also provided the motivation and opportunity for many
women to reach beyond the traditional gender roles designated to them
by society, and jazz music was a propelling force in the Women’s
Liberation Movement in the United States. Jazz music also helped to
provide jobs for women within the music industry, particularly as
singers. Prior to the 1920s, almost all popular music was performed
exclusively by male musicians.

By celebrating International Jazz Day, UNESCO intends to:

Celebrate the unique musical style that jazz represents!

Raise international awareness of the need for intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding;

Mobilize the intellectual community, decision-makers, cultural
entrepreneurs, cultural and educational institutions and the media to
promote jazz-related values as a vector of UNESCO’s mandate,
pioneering role and intellectual mission;

Reinforce international cooperation and communication in the field of jazz music.

Live concert in commemoration of the first annual International Jazz Day.
30 April 2012
Featuring UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Angelique Kidjo, Wynton Marsalis, Hugh Masekela, Shankar Mahadevan, and many special performers and celebrity hosts. (UNESCO, in partnership with the United States Mission to the United Nations and the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz)
Running time: 02:47:51
Language(s) available:
English

Wednesday, 25 April 2012

Message from Director General Francis Gurry

World Intellectual Property Day - April 26, 2012

World Intellectual Property Day is an opportunity to celebrate the
contribution that intellectual property makes to innovation and cultural
creation – and the immense good that these two social phenomena bring
to the world.
It is an opportunity to create greater understanding about the role
of intellectual property as a balancing mechanism between the competing
interests which surround innovation and cultural creation: the
interests of the individual creator and those of society; the interests
of the producer and those of the consumer; the interest in encouraging
innovation and creation, and the interest in sharing the benefits that
derive from them.
This year the theme of World IP Day is visionary innovators –
people whose innovations transform our lives. Their impact is
enormous. They can, at times, change the way society operates.

Take the Chinese innovator, Cai Lun. He laid the foundations for the
manufacturing of paper - a technology that transformed everything,
because it enabled the recording of knowledge. Then there was the
invention of moveable type. This was taken up in Europe by Johannes
Gutenberg with his invention of the printing press, which in turn
enabled the dissemination and democratization of knowledge. In our own
lifetimes we have witnessed the migration of content to digital format,
and the great distributional power for creative works that has been
brought about by the Internet and the development of the World Wide Web –
for whom we have to thank, among others, Tim Berners Lee.

Behind many extraordinary innovations there are extraordinary human
stories. At a time when there were few female scientists, Marie Curie
Sklodowska had to struggle to establish herself as a scientist in her
own right as opposed to the wife of a scientist. She also struggled as
an immigrant working in another community. Her desire to understand led
to the fundamental discoveries for which she was awarded two Nobel
prizes in two separate disciplines - in physics and in chemistry - the
only person ever to have achieved this.
In the arts, innovation revolves around new ways of seeing things. A
visionary artist or a composer or a writer is able to show us a
different way, a new way of looking at the world. Bob Dylan, for
example: he captured what was in the air and transformed several genres
of music, essentially bending the genres of folk and rock music. Or
consider architects – like Zaha Hadid or Norman Foster - who are
transforming urban landscapes, and beautifying our existence in new
ways, while at the same time taking into account the need to preserve
the environment.

We are dependent upon innovation to move forward. Without innovation
we would remain in the same condition as a human species that we are in
now. Yet inventions or innovations - in the health field for example –
are of relatively little value to society unless they can be used and
shared. This is the great policy dilemma. On the one hand, the cost of
innovation in modern medicine is enormous. On the other hand, the need
for compassion, and the need for sharing useful innovations, is also
enormous.

I believe we should look upon intellectual property as an empowering mechanism to address these challenges.
But we have to get the balances right, and that is why it is so
important to talk about intellectual property. On this World
Intellectual Property Day I would encourage young people in particular
to join in the discussion, because intellectual property is, by
definition, about change, about the new. It is about achieving the
transformations that we want to achieve in society.

25 April 2012 - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on countries to intensify their efforts to combat malaria, stressing that despite remarkable progress in recent years, much more needs to be done to end the “monumental tragedy” of one child dying every minute from the disease.
In his message to mark World Malaria Day, Mr. Ban highlighted the role international partnerships between governments, international agencies, donors, corporations and civil society organizations, among other actors, which have saved millions of lives through their work.

Secretary-General Says ‘Monumental Tragedy’ That One Child Dies Every Minute from Malaria, But Hope Offered by Coalition That Has Saved More Than a Million Lives

Following is Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message on World Malaria Day, observed 25 April:

Last
year on World Malaria Day, we mourned the fact that one child died every
45 seconds from this disease. This year, we have managed to slow the
clock. It remains a monumental tragedy that one child dies every minute
from malaria, but we can draw some hope from the many lives saved
through international interventions.

More children are sleeping
safely under nets, more families are gathering in rooms protected from
mosquitoes, more communities have access to testing, and more patients
get the medicines they need to recover.

Thanks to this remarkable
partnership bringing together Governments, international agencies,
donors, researchers, corporations, philanthropists and a range of civil
society organizations and concerned individuals.

Their efforts have saved
more than a million lives. Since 2000, malaria mortality rates have
fallen by more than a quarter globally, and by more than a third in
Africa.

Now is the time to push
for much greater progress. Achieving near zero malaria deaths is one of
key priorities in the action agenda I have established for the next
five years.

In our
world of plenty, there is no excuse for not making smart and affordable
investments in malaria interventions. A rapid diagnostic test costs
about 50 cents, while a course of an anti-malaria drug costs only about
$1. A bed net that lasts three years and can protect several children
costs approximately $5.

These are modest sums, and
we can lower costs even further if we fund research to find better
solutions. Even as we seek to prevent malaria deaths today, we must
invest in the next generation of anti-malaria tools to fight emerging
resistance and continue our drive towards a vaccine. We need to better
coordinate our efforts to test, treat and track the disease.

On this World Malaria Day,
let us collectively pledge to close the $3.2 billion funding gap to
achieve and maintain universal coverage in Africa up to 2015 — and
ultimately to reach our goal of defeating this disease

In 2010, about 3.3 billion people - almost half of the world's
population - were at risk of malaria. Every year, this leads to about
216 million malaria cases and an estimated 655 000 deaths. People living
in the poorest countries are the most vulnerable. World Malaria Day - which was instituted by the World Health
Assembly at its 60th session in May 2007 - is a day for recognizing the
global effort to provide effective control of malaria. It is an
opportunity:

for countries in the affected regions to learn from each other's experiences and support each other's efforts;

for new donors to join a global partnership against malaria;

for research and academic institutions to flag their scientific advances to both experts and general public; and

for international partners, companies and foundations to showcase their efforts and reflect on how to scale up what has worked.

World Intellectual Property Day is observed annually on 26 April. The event was established by the World Intellectual Property Organization
(WIPO) in 2000 to "raise awareness of how patents, copyright,
trademarks and designs impact on daily life" and "to celebrate
creativity, and the contribution made by creators and innovators to the development of societies across the globe". 26 April was chosen as this was the date on which the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization entered into force in 1970.
Each year, a message or theme is associated with the event:

World Press Freedom Day in Palestine: Strengthening Legal and Ethical Standards in a New Media Landscape

A one-day seminar to commemorate World Press Day will be held at
the Birzeit University´s Law Institute in the West Bank on 2 May, and a
second one will take place at the premises of Birzeit University´s
Media Development Center in Gaza on 10 May. These local commemorations
of World Press Freedom Day will focus on the theme “Legal and Ethical
Framework for Journalism in Palestine: Challenges in a New Media
Environment”. They are being organized by the Media Development Centre
at Birzeit University with the support of UNESCO and Canal France
International.

Palestinian journalists work in a volatile
context characterized by especially difficult circumstances. On the
occasion of World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), key actors in the media
field will be brought together to raise awareness about the obstacles to
freedom of expression in Palestine. They will discuss how to strengthen
the legal and regulatory framework to ensure the respect of the rights
of journalists and bloggers, guaranteeing their judiciary protection and
taking into consideration emerging issues in an increasingly
interconnected and fast evolving media landscape. Also at the core of
the debate will be the promotion of ethical journalistic standards, and
self-regulation mechanisms created and followed voluntarily by media
professionals.

Journalists and bloggers; media outlets owners,
editors and managers; representatives of professional associations;
academics and students; civil society practitioners; officials from
local and international public institutions are expected to join the
discussions in the West Bank and Gaza.

Key media stakeholders have contributed to the
development of the agenda of the celebration of World Press Freedom Day
in Palestine, including WAFA news agency, Ma’an news agency, Palestine
TV, I’lam Media Center in Nazareth, the Palestinian Journalists
Syndicate in Ramallah and the Government Media Center.

Speakers at the event in the West Bank will include
renowned international and local media experts like Toby Mendel,
Executive Director of the Centre for Law and Democracy (Canada); Aref
Hijjawi, former Head of Programmes at Al Jazeera (Qatar); Raed Othman,
Director of Ma’an News Agency (Palestine); Waleed Shurafa, Head of the
Media Department at Birzeit University (Palestine), and Ghasan
Al-Khataib, Director of the Government Media Centre (Palestine).

The concept note prepared by Birzeit University's Media Development Center for WPFD in Palestine is available here, and the agenda for the event in the West Bank can be accessed here. More information about the seminar in Gaza will be made available soon.

On the morning of 4 May, the
Director-General and the Prime Minister of Tunisia Hamed Jebali will
open an international conference on the theme of “New Voices: Media Freedom Helping to Transform Societies” .

The conference will divided into three debates, held over 4 and 5 May:

Media Freedom Helping to Transform Societies: New Voices, Youth, and Social Media
will look at how the convergence of social media, mobile connections
and satellite television has generated growth in freedom of expression.
This in turn unleashed the protest movement that began in Tunisia in
December in 2010 before spreading through much of the Arab world and
beyond.

The Reshaping of the Media Landscape in aTransitional Environment is
the subject of the second session. It will focus on the changes
experienced by government-owned media and their ability to become public
service operators that meet high journalistic standards in a
self-regulating environment.

Finally, aSpecial Plenary Session on Tunisiawill
examine the way forward for the media in the country. Participants will
include the Minister of Human Rights and Transitional Justice, Samir
Dilou and international participants such as Abdelkrim Hizaoui, Director
of the Centre africain de perfectionnement des journalistes et des communicateurs.

For the first time, this year’s World
Press Freedom Day event also includes a number of side events, organised
by UNESCO’s press freedom partners, including non-governmental and
intergovernmental organizations, international media outlets and youth
groups. Information about these events is available online.

Journalists wishing to cover the conference and linked activities are invited to register here.

Presidential Proclamation -- Earth Day

EARTH DAY, 2012

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

On April 22, 1970, millions of Americans came together to celebrate the
first Earth Day. Students, teachers, activists, elected officials, and
countless others challenged our Nation to confront our most urgent
environmental issues and rallied around a single message: the success
of future generations depends upon how we act today. As we commemorate
Earth Day this year, we reflect on the challenges that remain before us
and recommit to the spirit of togetherness and shared responsibility
that galvanized a movement 42 years ago.
America rose to meet the call to action in the months and years that
followed the first Earth Day. We passed the Clean Air, Clean Water,
Endangered Species, and Marine Mammal Protection Acts; founded the
Environmental Protection Agency; and ignited a spirit of stewardship
that has driven progress for over four decades. Today, our air and
water are cleaner, pollution has been greatly reduced, and Americans
everywhere are living in a healthier environment.
While we have made remarkable progress in protecting our health and our
natural heritage, we know our work is not yet finished. Last July, my
Administration proposed the toughest fuel economy standards in our
Nation's history -- standards that will save families money at the pump,
cut greenhouse gas emissions, and significantly reduce our dependence
on oil. In December, we finalized the first-ever national standards to
limit mercury and other toxic emissions from power plants, helping
safeguard the health of millions. We have taken action to protect and
restore our Nation's precious ecosystems, from the Gulf Coast to the
Great Lakes. And we continue to make landmark investments in batteries,
biofuels, and renewable energy that are unlocking American innovation
and ensuring our Nation stays on the cutting edge. Our country is on
the path to economic recovery and renewal, and moving forward, my
Administration will continue to fight for a healthy environment every
step of the way.

As we work to leave our children a safe, sustainable future, we must
also equip them with the tools they need to take on tomorrow's
environmental challenges. Supporting environmental literacy and a
strong foundation in science, technology, engineering, and math for
every student will help ensure our youth have the skills and knowledge
to advance our clean energy economy. Last year, we launched the
Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools recognition award to
encourage more schools to pursue sustainability, foster health and
wellness, and integrate environmental literacy into the curriculum. In
the days ahead, we look forward to awarding the first Green Ribbons and
recognizing the accomplishments of green schools across our country.

Forty-two years ago, a generation rallied together to protect the earth
we would inherit. As we reflect on that historic day of activism and
stewardship, let us embrace our commitment to the generations yet to
come by leaving them a safe, clean world on which to make their mark.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 22, 2012, as
Earth Day. I encourage all Americans to participate in programs and
activities that will protect our environment and contribute to a
healthy, sustainable future.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of
April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
thirty-sixth.

Wednesday, 18 April 2012

Remarks by the President of the General Assembly

Interactive Dialogue on Harmony with Nature to Commemorate International Mother Earth Day: “Scientific findings on the impacts of human activities on the functioning of the Earth System,” 18 April 2012

Under–Secretary-General Mr. Sha Zukang, and Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development,

Your Excellency Mr. Rafael Archondo, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Plurinational State of Bolivia to the United Nations, Eminent Professors, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentleman,

On behalf of the President of the General Assembly, His Excellency Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, I am pleased to make the following remarks.

Quote:
Let me welcome each of you to this Interactive Dialogue on Harmony with Nature, in commemoration of International Mother Earth Day.

This apt theme was selected by Member States in General Assembly resolution 66/204, and is an implicit recognition of the importance of ensuring harmony with nature through science and multilateral action.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Bolivia for initiating this important resolution.

Ladies and gentlemen,
Recent advances in Earth system science confirm that humanity is facing severe risks - risks that negatively impact human development and our existence on Earth.

During the past century, human activities on Earth have resulted in a significant increase of Green House Gas concentrations in the atmosphere, land degradation, the destruction of ecosystems and the depletion of Earth’s biodiversity.

Economic growth associated with unsustainable patterns of consumption and production is hindering our quest for harmony, both within and between societies, as well as between humankind and the natural environment.

I would submit that the world today is deeply engaged in two of the greatest existential questions:
First, how can we sustain life while protecting the planet?
And second, what does that Earth require in order to support seven - soon to be nine - billion people?

We are, for the first time, acknowledging worldwide that the sustainability of life on earth is a serious question that will drive fundamental decisions in our societies and the world at large.

In making such decisions, academic research plays an important role in clarifying these global issues.
The contribution of science and innovation in achieving sustainable development cannot be underestimated.
The effective implementation of the results of scientific research can support, among other things, efficient resource utilization, environmental protection and poverty eradication.

I firmly believe that scientists must guide this new paradigm, and that the UN System should work together towards supporting a stronger science based on sustainable development.
I would encourage Member States to continue to support the academic sector as it explores and explains these profound issues.

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is clear that we have to do more to address the issue of unsustainability.
As a human race, we have the resources, the scientific knowledge and the know-how to save our planet.

I believe that future work on this new paradigm should be supported by a globally recognized and coherent science base, that is capable of creating a strong science-policy interface for sustainable development.
This model would provide practical tools for utilizing natural resources in a more sustainable way, and safeguarding ecosystems by promoting social and economic development at all levels.

Our efforts for achieving sustainable development should be viewed as an investment in the future of humankind.

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) is an opportunity to assess our relationship with nature over the last 20 years; to affirm commitments made in Rio and Johannesburg; and to inject new impetus and genuine innovation towards fostering a sustainable way forward.
The commemoration of the International Day of Mother Earth is therefore both timely and relevant, as we aim to have a successful outcome in Rio next June.

The name and concept of Earth Day was allegedly pioneered by John McConnell in 1969 at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco. The first Proclamation of Earth Day was by San Francisco, the City of Saint Francis, patron saint of ecology. Earth Day was first observed in San Francisco and other cities on March 21, 1970, the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. This day of nature's equipoise was later sanctioned in a Proclamation signed by Secretary General U Thant at the United Nations where it is observed each year. About the same time a separate Earth Day was founded by United States SenatorGaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in first held on April 22, 1970. While this April 22 Earth Day was focused on the United States, an organization launched by Denis Hayes, who was the original national coordinator in 1970, took it international in 1990 and organized events in 141 nations.

Monday, 16 April 2012

The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace. The UN was founded in 1945 after World War II to replace the League of Nations, to stop wars between countries, and to provide a platform for dialogue. It contains multiple subsidiary organizations to carry out its missions.

Check
out the free UN Calendar of Observances iPhone app.!It features
official UN observances and links to related videos and further
information. The app also illustrates how the UN makes a difference in
tackling global challenges.

It functions in Chinese, Spanish and English. Arabic, French and Russian versions will be available in early 2014.

UN Audio Library

UNIS Handbook for Journalists and 2011 Calendar

For all UNIS press releases and information on all UNIS eventsand press briefings, go to www.unis.unvienna.org

“Chemistry – Our life, our future”, IYC 2011

United Nations activities and programmes.

United Nations observances contribute to the achievement of the purposes of the UN Charter and promote awareness of and action on important political, social, cultural, humanitarian or human rights issues. They provide a useful means for the promotion of international and national action and stimulate interest in United Nations activities and programmes. For international years and decades the UN Secretary General takes action to establish the preparatory process, evaluation and follow-up procedures.

In 1950, the General Assembly approved the first international day — Human Rights Day — to be observed on 10 December. Resolution 423 (V) invited all states and international organizations to observe this day to celebrate the proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the General Assembly on 10 December 1948, and to exert increasing efforts in this field.

In 1978, the General Assembly by its resolution S-10/2 proclaimed the first international week — the week starting 24 October (the day of the founding of the UN) — as a week devoted to fostering the objectives of disarmament (Disarmament Week).

The first international year was proclaimed by the General Assembly in 1959. It was the World Refugee Year [Resolution 1285 (XIII)].

The first UN decade was the United Nations Development Decade designated by the General Assembly in 1961 [Resolution 1710 (XVI)].

1971–1980 : Second United Nations Development Decade - A/RES/2626 (XXV)

1970s : Disarmament Decade - A/RES/2602 E (XXIV)

1960–1970 : United Nations Development Decade - A/RES/1710 (XVI)

31 January

World Leprosy Day is celebrated on the last Sunday in January in over 100 countries.

02 February

The international theme 2011 is "wetlands and forests - forests for water and wetlands"

04 February

WHO estimates that 84 million people will die of cancer between 2005 and 2015 without intervention.

06 February

WHO is committed to the elimination of female genital mutilation within a generation and is focusing on advocacy, research and guidance for health professionals and health systems.

20 February

Observance of World Day of Social Justice should support efforts of the international community in poverty eradication, the promotion of full employment and decent work, gender equity and access to social well-being and justice for all.

21 February

2011 International Mother Language Day: The information and communication technologies for the safeguarding and promotion of languages and linguistic diversity

08 March

International Women Day 2011: Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women

21 March

Elimination of Racial Discrimination

21 March in Australia

Hamony Day - Everyone Belongs

22 March

Theme 2011 - Water for Cities : Responding to the Urban Challenge

24 March

04 April

Mine Awareness and assistance in Mine Action

07 April

Theme 2011 : Antimicrobial resistance and its global spread

20 April

22 April

2011 theme : Pledge your Act today!

23 April

25 April

26 April

03 May

09 May

22 May

29 May

LAW.ORDER.PEACE.

31 May

"The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control" as the theme 2011

05 June

08 June

14 June

" More Blood, More Life "

17 June

20 JUNE

25 June

26 June

11 July

28 July

The first official WHO World Hepatitis Day is marked to increase the awareness and understanding of viral hepatitis and the diseases that it causes.

1 to 7 August

Breastfeeding is the best way to provide newborns with the nutrients they need.

19 August

To pay respect to those who have died or been injured in the course of their humanitarian work.

24 August

"Water for Life "

30 August

08 September

10 September

World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September promotes worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides.

26 September

28 September

World Rabies Day highlights the impact of human and animal rabies and promotes how to prevent and stop the disease by combating it in animals.

29 September

Cardiovascular diseases are the world’s largest killers, claiming 17.1 million lives a year.

26 to 30 September

04 October

05 October

10 October

13 October

"Vision 2020: The Right to Sight",

16 October

20 October

27 October

06 November

10 November

11 November

14 November

WHO estimates that more than 220 million people worldwide have diabetes. This number is likely to more than double by 2030 without intervention.

16 November

World COPD Day is a global effort to expand understanding of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and advocate for better care for patients.

20 November

Road traffic crashes kill nearly 1.3 million people every year and injure or disable as many as 50 million more.

21 November

25 November

Violence against women and girls is a problem of pandemic proportions.

01 December

World AIDS Day on 1 December draws together people from around the world to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and demonstrate international solidarity in the face of the pandemic.

United Nations International Days

27 January International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust A/RES/60/7

February

4 February World Cancer Day [WHO] 20 February World Day of Social Justice 21 February International Mother Language Day [UNESCO]

March

8 March International Women's Day21 March International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 21 March World Poetry Day [UNESCO] 21 March International Day of Nowruz23 March World Meteorological Day [WMO] 24 March World Tuberculosis Day [WHO] 24 March International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims 25 March International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade25 March International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members —

April

2 April World Autism Awareness Day 4 April International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action 7 April Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Rwanda Genocide7 April World Health Day [WHO] 12 April International Day of Human Space Flight 22 April International Mother Earth Day 23 April World Book and Copyright Day [UNESCO]25 April World Malaria Day [WHO] 26 April World Intellectual Property Day [WIPO] 28 April World Day for Safety and Health at Work [ILO] 29 April Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare

May

Day of Vesak 3 May World Press Freedom Day 8–9 May Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War 14–15 May World Migratory Bird Day [UNEP] 15 May International Day of Families 17 May World Telecommunication and Information Society Day [ITU] 21 May World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development 22 May International Day for Biological Diversity 29 May International Day of UN Peacekeepers31 May World No-Tobacco Day [WHO]

June

4 June International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression 5 June World Environment Day [UNEP]8 June World Oceans Day 12 June World Day Against Child Labour [ILO] 14 June World Blood Donor Day [WHO] 17 June World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought20 June World Refugee Day 23 June United Nations Public Service Day 23 June International Widow’s Day25 June Day of the Seafarer [IMO] 26 June International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 26 June United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

July

2 July International Day of Cooperatives 11 July World Population Day UNDP decision 89/4618 July Nelson Mandela International Day 28 July World Hepatitis Day —30 July International Day of Friendship

August

9 August International Day of the World's Indigenous People12 August International Youth Day 19 August World Humanitarian Day 23 August International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition [UNESCO]29 August International Day against Nuclear Tests 30 August International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances

September

8 September International Literacy Day [UNESCO]10 September World Suicide Prevention Day [WHO] 15 September International Day of Democracy 16 September International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer 21 September International Day of Peace 25 September World Heart Day [WHO] 27 September World Tourism Day [UNWTO] 28 September World Rabies Day [WHO] 29 September World Maritime Day [IMO]

October

1 October International Day of Older Persons 2 October International Day of Non-Violence 3 October World Habitat Day 5 October World Teachers’ Day [UNESCO]9 October World Post Day [UPU] 10 October World Mental Health Day [WHO] 13 October International Day for Disaster Reduction 13 October World Sight Day [WHO] 15 October International Day of Rural Women 16 October World Food Day [FAO] 17 October International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 24 October United Nations Day24 October World Development Information Day 27 October World Day for Audiovisual Heritage [UNESCO]

November

6 November International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict 10 November World Science Day for Peace and Development [UNESCO] 14 November World Diabetes Day [WHO]16 November International Day for Tolerance 17 November World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Day [WHO] 17 November World Philosophy Day [UNESCO] 20 November Universal Children’s Day 20 November Africa Industrialization Day 20 November World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims21 November World Television Day25 November International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 29 November International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

December

1 December World AIDS Day2 December International Day for the Abolition of Slavery3 December International Day of Persons with Disabilities5 December International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development 7 December International Civil Aviation Day [ICAO] 9 December International Anti-Corruption Day 10 December Human Rights Day11 December International Mountain Day 18 December International Migrants Day 19 December United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation 20 December International Human Solidarity Day

About the United Nations

This site provides a list of the 192 Member States of the UN, data on each country, how much each country pays to the UN (see Contribution to the UN Budget), and various sources of country information (see Related Links > Information Sources)

World Water Day - 22/03/2010

Water is the source of life and the link that binds all living beings on this planet. It is connected directly to all our United Nations goals: improved maternal and child health and life expectancy, women’s empowerment, food security, sustainable development and climate change adaptation and mitigation. Recognition of these links led to the declaration of 2005-2015 as the International Decade for Action “Water for Life”.

World Tuberculosis Day - 24/03/2010

Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade - 25/03/2010

Slavery is abhorrent. It is explicitly prohibited by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the United Nations has reaffirmed this principle many times, including in the Durban Declaration adopted at the 2001 World Conference Against Racism.

But slavery and slavery-like practices continue in many parts of the world. Slavery is mutating and re-emerging in modern forms, including debt bondage, the sale of children, and the trafficking of women and girls for sex. Its roots lie in ignorance, intolerance and greed.

We must create a climate in which such abuse and cruelty are inconceivable. One way is by remembering the past and honouring the victims of the transatlantic slave trade. By reminding ourselves of past injustices, we help to ensure that such systematic abuse of human rights can never be repeated.

We see the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade in all the countries it affected. If we are wise, we will use this legacy for good. We will recognize that it is clear evidence of what can happen, if intolerance, racism and greed are allowed to triumph.

We should also take heart from those who, with great courage, succeeded in ending this institutionalized abuse. Their bravery ensured the eventual triumph of the values the United Nations represents: tolerance, justice, and respect for the dignity and worth of all human beings.

Today, we salute all the victims of slavery and we commit ourselves to ensuring that this practice, in all its forms, is eradicated.

World Book and Copyright Day - 23/04/2010

23 April is a symbolic date for world literature for on this date in 1616, Cervantes, Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all died. It is also the date of birth or death of other prominent authors such as Maurice Druon, Haldor K.Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla and Manuel Mejía Vallejo.

It was a natural choice for UNESCO's General Conference, held in Paris in 1995, to pay a world-wide tribute to books and authors on this date, encouraging everyone, and in particular young people, to discover the pleasure of reading and gain a renewed respect for the irreplaceable contributions of those who have furthered the social and cultural progress of humanity. In this respect, UNESCO created both the World Book and Copyright Day and the UNESCO Prize for Children's and Young People's Literature in the Service of Tolerance.

World Press Freedom Day - 3/05/2010

World Press Freedom Day was established by the General Assembly of the United Nations in December, 1993, as an outgrowth of the Seminar on Promoting an Independent and Pluralistic African Press. This Seminar took place in Windhoek, Namibia, in 1991 and led to the adoption of the Windhoek Declaration on Promoting Independent and Pluralistic Media (www.misanet.org/charters/windhoek.html). The Windhoek Declaration called for the establishment, maintenance and fostering of an independent, pluralistic and free press and emphasized the importance of a free press to the development and maintenance of democracy in a nation, and for economic development. World Press Freedom Day is celebrated annually on May 3rd, the date on which the Windhoek Declaration was adopted.

International Day of Families - 15/05/2010

The United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution 47/237 of 20 September 1993, proclaimed that 15 May of every year shall be observed as the International Day of Families. This annual observance reflects the importance which the international community attaches to families as basic units of society as well as its concern regarding their situation around the world. The International Day of Families provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families as well as to promote appropriate action. The Day can become a powerful mobilizing factor on behalf of families in all countries, which avail themselves of this opportunity and demonstrate support of family issues appropriate to each society. (TEST2)

World No Tobacco Day - 31/05/2010

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL's MESSAGE ON WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY31 May 2009

Every year, some 5.4 million people die from illnesses caused by tobacco consumption – 80 per cent of them in low- and middle-income countries. Up to half of all smokers die from a tobacco-related disease, and science has shown that second-hand smoke harms everyone who is exposed to it. Left unchecked, tobacco-related deaths will rise to more than 8 million by 2030.

Lung cancer, heart disease and other tobacco-related illnesses are part of a broader epidemic of non-communicable diseases, which include strokes, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes. These diseases have become the world’s leading cause of mortality. Sixty per cent of all deaths globally are caused by them, with women being the hardest hit.

That we continue to allow such diseases to be caused by tobacco consumption is a global tragedy. It also comes at vast expense. Economies are harmed by the costs of treating of tobacco-caused diseases and by decreased productivity due to illness and premature death, while families whose members die or become ill due to tobacco use endure an unnecessary financial burden.

On this World No Tobacco Day, I urge governments everywhere to address this needless threat to public health.

World No Tobacco Day is observed around the world every year on May 31. The member states of the World Health Organization created World No Tobacco Day in 1987. It draws global attention to the tobacco epidemic and to the preventable death and disease it causes. It aims to reduce the 3.5 million yearly deaths from tobacco related health problems.

World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims - 21/11/2010

This Observance occurs on the third Sunday of November, annually

On 26 October 2005, the General Assembly invited Member States and the international community to recognize the third Sunday in November of every year as the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims as acknowledgement for victims of road traffic crashes and their families ( resolution 60/5 ).

World Television Day - 21/11/2010

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 November as World Television Day (through resolution 51/205 of 17 December 1996). This was done in recognition of the increasing impact television has on decision-making by alerting world attention to conflicts and threats to peace and security and its potential role in sharpening the focus on other major issues, including economic and social issues.

On 21 and 22 November 1996 the United Nations held the first World Television Forum, where leading media figures met under the auspices of the United Nations to discuss the growing significance of television in today's changing world and to consider how they might enhance their mutual cooperation. That is why the General Assembly decided to proclaim 21 November as World Television Day - to commemorate the date on which the first World Television Forum was held.

The celebration highlights how communications have become one of today's central international issues, not only for their relevance to the world economy, but also for their implications for social and cultural development. The celebration also underlines the ever-increasing demands faced by the United Nations to address the major issues facing humankind - and that television - as one of today's most powerful communications media, could play a role in presenting these issues to the world.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women - 25/11/2010

By resolution 54/134 of 17 December 1999, the General Assembly designated 25 November as theInternational Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, andinvited governments, international organizations and NGOs to organizeactivities designated to raise public awareness of the problem on thatday. Women's activists have marked 25 November as a day againstviolence since 1981. This date came from the brutal assassination in1960, of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in theDominican Republic, on orders of Dominican ruler Rafael Trujillo(1930-1961).

International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People - 29/11/2010

The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is observed by the United Nations on or around 29 November each year, in accordance with General Assembly mandates contained in resolutions 32/40 B of 2 December 1977 , 34/65 D of 12 December 1979 , and subsequent resolutions adopted under agenda item “Question of Palestine.”

The date of 29 November was chosen because of its meaning and significance to the Palestinian people. On that day in 1947, the General Assembly adopted resolution 181 (II) ,which came to be known as the Partition Resolution. That resolution provided for the establishment in Palestine of a “Jewish State” and an“Arab State”, with Jerusalem as a corpus separatum under a special international regime. Of the two States to be created under this resolution, only one, Israel, has so far come into being.

The Palestinian people, who now number more than eight million,live primarily in the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since1967, including East Jerusalem; in Israel; in neighbouring Arab States;and in refugee camps in the region.

World AIDS Day - 1/12/2010

The General Assembly, in 1988, stated its deep concern about the pandemic proportions of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Noting that the World Health Organization (WHO) had declared 1 December 1988 World AIDS Day, the Assembly stressed the importance of observing that occasion (resolution 43/15). Today, some 40 million people are living with HIV/AIDS.

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery - 2/12/2010

The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, 2 December, recalls the date of the adoption, by the General Assembly, of the United Nations Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and the Exploitation of Others (resolution 317 (IV) of 2 December 1949).

International Day of Persons with Disabilities - 3/12/2010

On 18 December 2007, the Assembly decided to rename the International Day of Disabled Persons, observed every year on 3 December, as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (resolution 62/127). It also called upon States that had no yet done so to consider signing and ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol as a matter of priority. The Convention was adopted on 13 December 2006.

The Assembly proclaimed the Day in 1992, at the conclusion of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons (1983-1992), by its resolution 47/3. The Decade had been a period of raising awareness and enacting measures to improve the situation of persons with disabilities and provide them with equal opportunities. Subsequently, the Assembly appealed to Member States to highlight the observance of the Day in order to further integrate people with disabilities into the society (resolution 47/88).

International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development - 5/12/2010

The General Assembly has invited Governments to observe the International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development on 5 December each year ( resolution 40/212 of 17 December 1985). It urged them to heighten awareness of the contribution made by volunteer service, thereby stimulating people in all walks of life to offer their services as volunteers, both at home and abroad. In 2001, the International Year of Volunteers, the Assembly adopted a set of recommendations on ways that Governments and the United Nations system could support volunteering and asked that they be widely disseminated (resolution 56/38 of 5 December 2001).

International Civil Aviation Day - 7/12/2010

In 1996, the General Assembly proclaimed 7 December as International Civil Aviation Day, and urged Governments, as well as national, regional, international and intergovernmental organizations, to take steps to observe it (resolution 51/33 of 6 December). the Day had been declared in 1992 by the Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a United Nations specialized agency, to highlight and advance the benefits of international civil aviation. Observation of the Day started on 7 December 1994 - the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, which established ICAO.

International Anti-Corruption Day - 9/12/2010

International Anti-Corruption Day

On 31 October 2003, the General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention against Corruption and requested that the Secretary-General designate the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as secretariat for the Convention's Conference of States parties ( resolution 58/4 ). The Assembly also designated 9 December as International Anti-Corruption Day, to raise awareness of corruption and of the role of the Convention in combating and preventing it. The Convention entered into force in December 2005.

Human Rights Day - 10/12/2010

All States and interested organizations were invited by the General Assembly in 1950 to observe 10 December as Human rights Day ( Resolution 423 (V) ). The Day marks the anniversary of the Assembly's adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 and is the most important commemorative day of the human rights calendar.

International Mountain Day - 11/12/2010

The UN General Assembly designated 11 December, from 2003 onwards, as 'International Mountain Day' ( Resolution 57/245 ). This decision results from the success of the UN International Year of Mountains in 2002, which increased global awareness of the importance of mountains, stimulated the establishment of national committees in 78 countries and strengthened alliances through promoting the creation of the International Partnership for Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions, known as the 'Mountain Partnership (WSSD, Johannesburg, 2 September 2002). FAO was the designated lead coordinating agency for International Year of Mountains and is mandated to lead observance of International Mountain Day.

International Migrants Day - 18/12/2010

As recommended by the UN's Economic and Social Council (decision 2000/288 of 28 july 2000), the General Assembly has proclaimed 18 December International Migrants Day ( resolution 55/93 of 4 December 2000). On that day in 1990, the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families was adopted (resolution 45/158). The Assembly has stressed the need to make further efforts to ensure respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants. It is estimated that one in every 35 persons in the world is a migrant, living and working in a country other than his or her own. All countries have migrants among their population.

United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation - 19/12/2010

On 23 December 2004, the General Assembly declared 19 December of each year as the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation ( resolution 58/220 ). This marks the date, in 1978, when the General Assembly endorsed the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Promoting and Implementing Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (resolution 33/134).

International Human Solidarity Day - 20/12/2010

In connection with its observance of the first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006), the General assembly, on 22 December 2005, decided to proclaim 20 December of each year as International Human Solidarity Day ( resolution 60/209 ). In taking that action, it recalled that the Millennium Declaration identified solidarity as one of the fundamental and universal values that should underlie relations between peoples in the twenty-first century.

Holocaust Remembrance Day - 27/01/2011

Rejecting any denial of the Holocaust as a historical event, either in full or in part, the General Assembly adopted by consensus a resolution (A/RES/60/7) condemning "without reserve" all manifestations of religious intolerance, incitement, harassment or violence against persons or communities based on ethnic origin or religious belief, whenever they occur.

It decided that the United Nations would designate 27 January -– the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp -- as an annual International Day of Commemoration to honour the victims of the Holocaust, and urged Member States to develop educational programmes to instil the memory of the tragedy in future generations to prevent genocide from occurring again, and requested the United Nations Secretary-General to establish an outreach programme on the "Holocaust and the United Nations," as well as measures to mobilize civil society for Holocaust remembrance and education, in order to help prevent future acts of genocide.

The Holocaust was a turning point in history, which prompted the world to say "never again." The significance of resolution A/RES/60/7 is that it calls for a remembrance of past crimes with an eye towards preventing them in the future.

Holocaust Remembrance Day - 27/01/2011

Rejecting any denial of the Holocaust as a historical event, either in full or in part, the General Assembly adopted by consensus a resolution (A/RES/60/7) condemning "without reserve" all manifestations of religious intolerance, incitement, harassment or violence against persons or communities based on ethnic origin or religious belief, whenever they occur.

It decided that the United Nations would designate 27 January -– the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp -- as an annual International Day of Commemoration to honour the victims of the Holocaust, and urged Member States to develop educational programmes to instil the memory of the tragedy in future generations to prevent genocide from occurring again, and requested the United Nations Secretary-General to establish an outreach programme on the "Holocaust and the United Nations," as well as measures to mobilize civil society for Holocaust remembrance and education, in order to help prevent future acts of genocide.

The Holocaust was a turning point in history, which prompted the world to say "never again." The significance of resolution A/RES/60/7 is that it calls for a remembrance of past crimes with an eye towards preventing them in the future.

World Day for Social Justice - 20/02/2011

At its sixty-second session, in November 2007, the General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed 20 February as World Day of Social Justice. The day is to be observed for the first time in 2009.

Member states were invited to devote this special day to the promotion of concrete national activities in accordance with the objectives and goals of the World Summit for Social Development and the twenty-fourth session of the General Assembly, entitled “World Summit for Social Development and beyond: achieving social development for all in a globalizing world”.

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination - 21/03/2011

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on 21 March. On that day, in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid "pass laws". Proclaiming the Day in 1966, the General Assembly called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination (resolution 2142 (XXI)).

World Water Day - 22/03/2011

World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. This year's theme for World Water Day is "Water for Cities: Responding to the Urban Challenge.

An international day to celebrate freshwater was recommended at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day.

For more information please visit the official website or UNIC Canberra World Water Day page.

World Meteorological Day - 23/03/2011

Each year, on 23 March, the World Meteorological Organization, its 189 Members and the worldwide meteorological community celebrate World Meteorological Day around a chosen theme. This day commemorates the entry into force, on that date in 1950, of the WMO Convention creating the Organization. Subsequently, in 1951, WMO was designated a specialized agency of the United Nations System.

The Right to the Truth of Victims of Gross Human Rights Violations - 24/03/2011

On 21 December 2010, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 24 March as the International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims.

The purpose of the Day is to:

• Honour the memory of victims of gross and systematic human rights violations and promote the importance of the right to truth and justice;

• Pay tribute to those who have devoted their lives to, and lost their lives in, the struggle to promote and protect human rights for all;

• Recognize, in particular, the important work and values of Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero, of El Salvador, who was assasinated on 24 March 1980, after denouncing violations of the human rights of the most vulnerable populations and defending the principles of protecting lives, promoting human dignity and opposition to all forms of violence.

The UN General Assembly, in its resolution, invites all Member States, international organizations and civil society organizations and individuals, to observe the International Day in an appropriate manner.

Remembrance of Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade - 25/03/2011

The event is held annually pursuant to General Assembly resolution A/RES/62/122 of 17 December 2007, which called, inter alia, for 25 March to be designated as International Day of Remembrance of Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

The resolution requested the Secretary-General, in collaboration with UNESCO, to establish an educational outreach programme to mobilize educational institutions, civil society and other organizations to inculcate in future generations the “causes, consequences and lessons of the transatlantic slave trade, and to communicate the dangers of racism and prejudice”.

World Autism Awareness Day - 02/04/2011

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that manifests itself during the first three years of life. The rate of autism in all regions of the world is high and it has a tremendous impact on children, their families, communities and societies.

Throughout its history, the United Nations family has promoted the rights and well-being of the disabled, including children with developmental disabilities. In 2008, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities entered into force, reaffirming the fundamental principle of universal human rights for all.

The United Nations General Assembly unanimously declared 2 April as World Autism Awareness Day (A/RES/62/139) to highlight the need to help improve the lives of children and adults who suffer from the disorder so they can lead full and meaningful lives.

International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action - 04/04/2011

On 8 December 2005, the General Assembly declared that 4 April of each year shall be officially proclaimed and observed as the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action (A/RES/60/97).

It called for continued efforts by States, with the assistance of the United Nations and relevant organizations, to foster the establishment and development of national mine-action capacities in countries where mines and explosive remnants of war constitute a serious threat to the safety, health and lives of the civilian population, or an impediment to social and economic development at the national and local levels.

Commemoration of the Rwanda genocide - 07/04/2011

On 7 April every year, the UN commemorates the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, where more than 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus are estimated to have been killed within a period of 100 days.

Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare - 29/04/2011

The Conference of the States Parties at its Tenth Session (paragraph 23.3 of C-10/5, dated 11 November 2005) decided that a memorial Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare would be observed on 29 April each year––the date in 1997 on which the Chemical Weapons Convention entered into force.

This commemoration will provide an opportunity to pay tribute to the victims of chemical warfare, as well as to reaffirm the commitment of theOrganization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to the elimination of the threat of chemical weapons, thereby promoting the goals of peace, security, and multilateralism.

World Press Freedom Day - 03/05/2011

World Press Freedom Day is celebrated every year on 3 May worldwide. It is an opportunity to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty. "21st Century Media: New Frontiers, New Barriers" is the theme of World Press Freedom Day 2011.

By decision 48/432 of 20 December 1993, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 3 May as World Press Freedom Day. Since then, it has been celebrated each year on 3 May, the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek. The document calls for free, independent, pluralistic media worldwide characterizing free press as essential to democracy and a fundamental human right.

The Declaration of Windhoek is a statement of free press principles as put together by newspaper journalists in Africa during a UNESCO seminar on “Promoting an Independent and Pluralistic African Press” in Windhoek, Namibia, from 29 April to 3 May 1991.

International Day of Families - 15/05/2011

The International Day of Families is observed on the 15th of May every year. The Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly resolution in 1993 (A/RES/47/237) and reflects the importance the international community attaches to families. The International Day provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and increase the knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families.

In its resolution, the General Assembly also noted that the family-related provisions of the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits of the 1990s and their follow-up processes continue to provide policy guidance on ways to strengthen family-centred components of policies and programmes as part of an integrated comprehensive approach to development.

The International Day of Families has inspired a series of awareness-raising events, including national family days. In many countries, that day provides an opportunity to highlight different areas of interest and importance to families. Activities include workshops and conferences, radio and television programmes, newspaper articles and cultural programmes highlighting relevant themes.

The 2011's commemoration of the International Day of Families focuses on the "Confronting Family Poverty and Social Exclusion."

World No Tobacco Day - 31/05/2011

World No Tobacco Day is celebrated around the world every year on May 31. This yearly celebration informs the public on the dangers of using tobacco, the business practices of tobacco companies, what WHO is doing to fight the tobacco epidemic, and what people around the world can do to claim their right to health and healthy living and to protect future generations.

1961- International Health and Medical Research Year

1959/60 - World Refugee Year

World Information Society Day -17/05/2010

On 27 March 2006, the General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/60/252 proclaiming 17 May as annual World Information Society Day. This Day will help raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the Internet and other information communications technologies (ICTs) can bring to societies and economies, as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide.

International Day Of United Nations Peacekeepers - 29/05/2010

By resolution 57/129 of 11 December 2002, the General Assembly designated 29 May as the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, to pay tribute to all the men and women who have served and continue to serve in United Nations peacekeeping operations for their high level of professionalism, dedication and courage, and to honour the memory of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace.

International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression - 4/06/2010

On 19 August 1982, at its emergency special session on the question of Palestine, the General Assembly decided to commemorate 4 June of each year as the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression (resolution ES-7/8).

World Environment Day - 5/06/2010

World Environment Day, commemorated each year on 5 June, is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action.

World Oceans Day - 8/06/2010

In 2008, the United Nations General Assembly decided that, as from 2009, 8 June would be designated by the United Nations as “World Oceans Day” (resolution 63/111, paragraph 171). Many countries have celebrated World Oceans Day following the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, which was held in Rio de Janerio in 1992.

The oceans are essential to food security and the health and survival of all life, power our climate and are a critical part of the biosphere. The official designation of World Oceans Day is an opportunity to raise global awareness of the current challenges faced by the international community in connection with the oceans.

The theme of the inaugural observance of the World Oceans Day by the United Nations in 2009 is “Our Oceans, Our Responsibility”. The Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, in cooperation with the Department of Public Information, is organizing a number of events and activities at United Nations Headquarters in New York on 8 June 2009. http://www.un.org/Depts/los/reference_files/worldoceansday.htm

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought - 17/06/2010

The World Day to Combat Desertification, celebrated each year on June 17, is part of an international campaign by the United Nations to tackle global environmental deterioration, in particular the degradation of drylands. The day marks the anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

The General Assembly therefore decided that, from 2001, 20 June would be celebrated as World Refugee Day.

This year the UN refugee agency, in its 60th year, will mark World Refugee Day with a rich and varied programme of events in locations worldwide and the launch of a new global awareness campaign. UNHCR will start rolling out the multimedia "One" campaign next week. Over the next six months it will increase awareness about the forcibly displaced and stateless by telling their powerful personal stories. The campaign will carry the message that "One Refugee Without Hope is too Many." Every day, millions of refugees face murder, rape and terror. We believe even 1 is too many.

Where to find UNPAN?

The UNPAN system is centred at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and draws upon existing regional/subregional institutions devoted to public administration and finance in the context of social and economic development. So far, it is comprised of the following online regional centres (ORCs): eight in Africa and three in the Arab States, four in Asia and the Pacific, four in Latin America and the Caribbean, four in Europe, and six in North America.

International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking - 26/06/2010

By resolution 42/112 of 7 December 1987, the General Assembly decided to observe 26 June as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse. This resolution recommended further action with regard to the report and conclusions of the 1987 International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

International Day of the World's Indigenous People - 9/08/2010

By resolution 49/214 of 23 December 1994, the General Assembly decided to celebrate the International Day of the World's Indigenous People on 9 August every year during the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People. In 2004 the Assembly proclaimed a Second International Decade by resolution 59/174. The goal of this Decade is to further strengthen international cooperation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as culture, education, health, human rights, the environment, and social and economic development.

International Youth Day - 12/08/2010

The General Assembly on 17 December 1999 in its resolution 54/120, endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth (Lisbon, 8-12 August 1998) that 12 August be declared International Youth Day. The Assembly recommended that public information activities be organized to support the Day as a way to promote better awareness of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond, adopted by the General Assembly in 1995 (resolution 50/81).

World Humanitarian Day - 19/08/2010

In December 2008, the General Assembly voted to observe World Humanitarian Day each year on 19 August, dedicated to increasing public understanding of humanitarian assistance activities worldwide and to honour humanitarian workers who have lost their lives or been injured in the course of their work.

The date coincides with the anniversary of the terrorist attack on the United Nations Office in Iraq in 2003, in which 22 people died. Among them was Sergio Vieira de Mello, at that time the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to Iraq.

The General Assembly invites all countries, the UN system and international and non-governmental organizations to observe the day annually in an appropriate manner.

For 2009, the Day has three objectives:• To draw attention to humanitarian needs worldwide;• To acknowledge the ongoing work of humanitarian staff around the globe;• To honour those who have lost their lives in humanitarian service.

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition - 23/08/2010

The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, 2 December, recalls the date of the adoption, by the General Assembly, of the United Nations Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others [Resolution 317 (IV) of 2 December 1949]. The International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition is celebrated every 23rd of August.

World Space Week - 4/09/2010

By resolution 54/68 of 6 December 1999, the General Assembly proclaimed World Space Week, to be observed between 4 and 10 October, to celebrate the contributions of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition. The dates recall the launch, on 4 October 1957, of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik I, and the entry into force, on 10 October 1967, of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space.

International Day of Democracy - 15/09/2010

On 8 November 2007, by Resolution A/Res/62/7, the General Assembly proclaimed 15 September as the International Day of Democracy, inviting Member States, the United Nations system and other regional, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to commemorate the Day. The International Day of Democracy provides an opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world. Democracy is as much a process as a goal and only with the full participation of and support by the international community, the national governing bodies, civil society and individuals, can the ideal of democracy be made into a reality to be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere.

International Day For the Preservation of the Ozone Layer - 16/09/2010

On 19 December 1994, by A/RES/49/114, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 16 September the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, commemorating the date, in 1987, on which the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was signed. States are invited to devote the Day each year to promote, at the national level, activities in accordance with the objectives of the Montreal Protocol and its amendments.

International Day of Peace - 21/09/2010

The International Day of Peace was first established in 1981 by resolution 36/67 of the United Nations General Assembly to coincide with its opening session every September. In 2001 resolution 55/282 was strengthened to fix the date annually on 21 September and for it to be a day of nonviolence and cease-fire. The resolution was adopted unanimously by the Member States of the General Assembly.

World Maritime Day - 24/09/2010

Every year IMO celebrates World Maritime Day. The exact date is left to individual Governments but is usually celebrated during the last week in September. The day is used to focus attention on the importance of shipping safety, maritime security and the marine environment and to emphasize a particular aspect of IMO's work.

64th Session of the United Nations General Assembly - 28/09/2010

The General Assembly of the United Nations opened its sixty-fourth session on 15 September at United Nations Headquarters in New York. The annual general debate, which traditionally features statements by Heads of State and Government as well as Ministers, began on Wednesday, 23 September 2009, and concludes on 30 September 2009.

Established in 1945 under the Charter of the United Nations, the General Assembly occupies a central position as the chief deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations. Comprising all 192 Members of the United Nations, it provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter. It also plays a significant role in the process of standard-setting and the codification of international law. The Assembly meets in regular session intensively from September to December each year, and thereafter as required.

Secretary-General Message International Year of Older Persons - 1/10/2010

On 14 December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly (by resolution 45/106) designated 1 October the International Day of Older Persons.

This was preceded by initiatives such as the Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing - which was adopted by the 1982 World Assembly on Ageing - and endorsed later that year by the UN General Assembly.

In 1991, the General Assembly (by resolution 46/91) adopted the United Nations Principles for Older Persons.

In 2002, the Second World Assembly on Ageing adopted the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, to respond to the opportunities and challenges of population ageing in the 21st century and to promote the development of a society for all ages.

The theme of the year 2010's commemoration is "Older persons and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)". This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the UN International Day of Older Persons.

International Day of Non-Violence - 2/10/2010

Reaffirming the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence, and desiring to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence, the General Assembly has decided to observe 2 October as the International Day of Non-Violence. By its resolution 61/271 of 15 June 2007, the Assembly invited all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, regional and non-governmental organizations and individuals to commemorate the Day in an appropriate manner and to disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness.

The resolution originated from a Declaration adopted at the “International Conference on Peace, Non-Violence and Empowerment -- Gandhian Philosophy in the 21st Century”. Mahatma Gandhi was born on 2 October 1869.

World Habitat Day - 5/10/2010

By Resolution A/RES/40/202 the United Nations has designated the first Monday in October every year as World Habitat Day to reflect on the state of human settlements and the basic right to adequate shelter for all. It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat.

World Teachers Day - 5/10/2010

World Teachers' Day was inaugurated by UNESCO in 1994 to focus attention on the extraordinary contributions and achievements of teachers. The Day is celebrated internationally on October 5, the day in 1966 on which a joint UNESCO/ILO conference adopted a recommendation on the Status of Teachers.

World Post Day - 9/10/2010

World Post Day is celebrated each year on 9 October, the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union in 1874 in the Swiss Capital, Bern. It was declared World Post Day by the UPU Congress held in Tokyo, Japan in 1969. Since then, countries across the world participate annually in the celebrations. The Posts in many countries use the event to introduce or promote new postal products and services.

World Mental Health Day - 10/10/2010

World Mental Health Day is celebrated on 10 October each year. It is an internationally recognised day to promote mental health and wellbeing around the world.

International Day For Natural Disaster Reduction - 14/10/2010

By resolution 44/236 (22 December 1989), the General Assembly designated the second Wednesday of October International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction. The International Day was to be observed annually during the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, 1990-1999. In 2001, the General Assembly decided to maintain the observance of the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction on the second Wednesday of October (resolution 56/195 of 21 December), as a vehicle to promote a global culture of natural disaster reduction, including disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness.

International Day of Rural Women - 15/10/2010

The General Assembly has declared that 15 October of each year shall be officially proclaimed and observed as the International Day of Rural Women. By its resolution 62/136 of 18 December 2007, the Assembly urged Member States, in collaboration with the organizations of the United Nations and civil society, to undertake measures to improve the situation of rural women, including indigenous women, in their national, regional and global development strategies.

These measures include: creating an enabling environment to improve the situation of rural women; pursuing their political and socio-economic empowerment; supporting their full and equal participation in decision-making at all levels; integrating a gender perspective in the design, implementation, follow-up and evaluation of development policies and programmes; addressing their specific health needs; ensuring the rights of older women in rural areas to basic social services; mobilizing resources for increasing women’s access to existing savings and credit schemes; and integrating increased employment opportunities for rural women in all international and national development and poverty eradication strategies.

World Food Day - 16/10/2010

The aim of World Food Day, proclaimed in 1979 by the Conference of the FAO of the United Nations, is to heighten public awareness of the world food problem and strengthen solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty. The Day marks the date of the founding of the FAO in 1945. In 1980, the General Assembly endorsed observance of the Day in consideration of the fact that “food is a requisite for human survival and well-being and a fundamental human necessity” (resolution 35/70 of 5 December).

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty - 17/10/2010

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty has been observed every year since 1993, when the General Assembly, by resolution 47/196, designated this day to promote awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries, particularly in developing countries - a need that has become a development priority.

24-30 Oct Disarmament Week

The annual observance of Disarmament Week, which begins on the anniversary of the founding of the Untied Nations, was called for in the Final Document of the General Assembly 1978 special session on disarmament (resolution S-10/2). States were invited to highlight the danger of the arms race, propagate the need for its cessation and increase public understanding of the urgent tasks of disarmament.

In 1995, the Assembly invited Governments, as well as non-governmental organizations, to continue taking an active part in Disarmament Week (resolution 50/72 B of 12 December). It invited the Secretary-General to continue using the United Nations information entities as widely as possible to promote a better understanding among the public of disarmament problems and the aims of the Week.

World Development Information Day - 24/10/2010

The United Nations General Assembly instituted World Development Information Day at its twenty-seventh session in December 1972 (A/Res/3038 XXVII) with the object of drawing the attention of world public opinion each year to development problems and the necessity of strengthening international co-operation to solve them. The General Assembly also decided that World Development Information Day should coincide, in principle, with United Nations Day to stress the central role of development in the work of the United Nations.

World Diabetes Day - 14/11/2010

Welcoming the fact that the International Diabetes Federation has been observing World Diabetes Day globally since 1991, with co-sponsorship of the World Health Organization (WHO), the General Assembly, on 20 December 2006, designated 14 November, the current World Diabetes Day, as a United Nations Day, to be observed every year beginning in 2007 ( resolution 61/225 ).

Recognizing that diabetes is a chronic, debilitating and costly disease which poses serious challenges to development, the Assembly encouraged Member States to develop national policies for its prevention, treatment and care in line with the sustainable development of their health-care systems, taking account of internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals.

The Assembly also invited all Member States, relevant organizations of the United Nations system and other international organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to observe World Diabetes Day in an appropriate manner, including through education and the mass media.

United Nations Day - 24/10/2010

The anniversary of the entry into force of the United Nations Charter -- 24 October 1945 -- has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948. It has traditionally been marked throughout the world by meetings, discussions and exhibits on the achievements and goals of the Organization. In 1971, the General Assembly recommended that Member States observe it as a public holiday (resolution 2782 (XXVI)).

Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict - 6/11/2010

On 5 November 2001, the General Assembly declared 6 November of each year as the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict ( resolution 56/4 ). In taking this action, it considered that damage to the environment in times of armed conflict impairs ecosystems and natural resources long after the period of conflict, often extending beyond the limits of national territories and the present generation.

International Day for Tolerance - 16/11/2010

In 1996, the General Assembly invited Member States to observe the International Day for Tolerance on 16 November, with activities directed towards both educational establishments and the wider public ( resolution 51/95 of 12 December). This action came in the wake of the United Nations Year for Tolerance, 1995, proclaimed by the Assembly in 1993 (resolution 48/126). The Year had been declared on the initiative of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); on 16 November 1995, the UNESCO member States had adopted the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance and Follow-up Plan of Action for the Year.

World Philosophy Day - 18/11/2010

Celebrated at UNESCO’s initiative every third Thursday of November since 2002, World Philosophy Day will take place this year on 18 November 2010.

World Philosophy Day was introduced in 2002 by UNESCO to honour philosophical reflection in the entire world by opening up free and accessible spaces. Its objective is to encourage the peoples of the world to share their philosophical heritage and to open their minds to new ideas, as well as to inspire a public debate between intellectuals and civil society on the challenges confronting our society.

Universal Children's Day - 20/11/2010

The General Assembly recommended in 1954 (resolution 836 (IX)) that all countries institute a Universal Children's Day, to be observed as a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding between children and of activity promoting the welfare of the world's children. It suggested to Governments that the Day be observed on the date which each considers appropriate. The date of 20 November marks the day in which the Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rigths of the Child, in 1959, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in 1989.

In Australia, Universal Children's Day is celebrated every year on the 4th Wednesday in October.

Africa Industrialization Day - 20/11/2010

Within the framework of the Second Industrialization Development Decade for Africa (1991-2000), the General Assembly proclaimed 20 November as Africa Industrialization Day ( resolution 44/237 of 22 December 1989). The Day is intended to mobilize the commitment of the international community to the industrialization of Africa.